Please Help!

[Mar_ducks]

My chickens have become more and more aggressive over the past few weeks. This has resulted in a few of them getting injuries (specifically in their eyes which had caused infection). Why causes a sudden onset of aggression? What can I do to help stop this behavior before more of my chickens continue getting injured and needing treatment.
They always have access to food and water, and they free range all day long.

 

[BoundlessLove]

Hi many chickens do you have and what size is your coop and run?
Also, How many are males and how many are females?
You do not refer to their age; however, it sounds as if they are possibly juveniles.

 

[allosaurusrock]

Agreed- what is your rooster ratio?

 

[Mrs. K]

And pictures of your set up!

 

[Mar_ducks]

Hi many chickens do you have and what size is your coop and run?
Also, How many are males and how many are females?
You do not refer to their age; however, it sounds as if they are possibly juveniles.

I have 12 chickens in a very large 15x8 run. They are in the run at night and get let out every morning by 8:30 am. They then free range all day. They have a large nesting box structure we made that has 9 boxes.
They are young. About half are nearly 1 year and the other half are 9 months old. No males, all females.

 

[Mrs. K]

Can you post pictures of their heads? I have never heard of eye injuries. I mean eye injuries can happen, is it possible they are sticking their heads through a fence, and injuring them pulling back out?

Are you seeing the aggression? Generally - aggression is more feather pulling and pecking, but a general peck where they can get the dig in, not specifically at the eyes.

Do show pictures - the only thing I can suggest is to add clutter and hideouts in the run, add more roost room and separate your roosts several feet apart, but all at the same height. Some people like staggered height roosts, but my flock does better if they are all the same height. I have seen an impossible number of birds fighting to be on the top roost, when there was plenty of room below.

Mrs K

 

[BoundlessLove]

Looks like you have another thread for this in Emergencies.
You will get the best help there.
I would trust what the Educactors advise on BYC.